Sony Betamax SL-HF400 won't eject tape

[ESigma25]

I have a Sony Betamax SL-HF400 (a Super Beta Hi-Fi unit from 1985) with a tape stuck in it.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGxyUdaW...name=4096x4096

When you press the Eject button the tape retracts into the cassette like it should, the mechanism lifts the tape up like it's going to actually eject it...and then drops the tape back down almost immediately and pulls the tape back out again.

This thing looks really complicated internally so I don't really want to go poking around in it without an idea of where to start, what should I check to fix this eject problem?

[Popester]

It’s hard to tell with the tape in the carriage assembly. You might have a micro switch not actuating. If the tape is unthreading completely I’m curious what pushes the tape out of the carriage.

[ESigma25]

Yeah, it seems like something isn't actuating to tell the eject mechanism to eject the tape the whole way and so it's programmed to just...drop the tape back down.

[Electronic M]

If the tape is/maybe important and you have another deck you could pull the cord when the tape is back in its shell and partway up then dismantle the deck to save the tape.

[ESigma25]

Nah, it's some Kodak blank, I don't even know what's on it. I just want to get the damned tape out so I can examine the insides of the deck better.

[MIPS]

I seem to recall that on some models there's a separate motor and worm gear on the right side of the transport that rotates a D-shaped gear with an extension and that pulls the carriage up and out.

[ESigma25]

Originally Posted by MIPS

I seem to recall that on some models there's a separate motor and worm gear on the right side of the transport that rotates a D-shaped gear with an extension and that pulls the carriage up and out.

I saw that in a thread from 4 years ago about another similar era SuperBeta deck. I'll have to see if mine uses a similar mechanism.

[MIPS]

I can't say for others but I've had issues with that gear breaking. Two different decks now the gear breaks and renders the machine useless. Apparently at one point Sony had a metal replacement available to authorized distributors but I've never even seen NOS pieces.

Edited: PALsite seems to describe the SL-F30 using a mechanism similar to yours pictured. Looks like that belt operates the loading mechanism and yes, again that arm gear assembly is known for losing teeth.


https://www.palsite.com/slf30tech.html